Window latch



May 2, 1939- s. c. REYNAUD WINDOW LATCH Filed Jan. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l )ZVVENTOR SAMUEL. c. REYNAUD A TTORNEYS May 2, 193. s. c. REYNAUD 2,157,015

WINDOW LATCH Filed Jan. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented May 2 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW LATCH Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 120,057

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to window constructions and refers more particularly to improvements in casement windows.

One of the objects of this invention consists in the provision of a casement window having a concealed latch at the free edge of the swinging ventilator effective upon closing the ventilator to latch the latter to the window frame.

Another'object of this invention resides in the m provision of a latch having a latch member pivotally supported on the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent one end of the latter for engagement with a shoulder on the window frame and having an actuating member pivotally sup- 15 ported on the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent the opposite end thereof in a position to cooperate with a portion of the ventilator frame to actuate the latch member through a connecting rod supported on the free edge of the 90 ventilator for sliding movement in the direction of length of said edge and operatively connected respectively to the latch member and actuating member.

A further advantageous feature of the present invention consists in the provision of a latch of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the connecting bar is placed under compression in the closed position of the ventilator in order to relieve the ventilator from undue stress and thereby prevent warping of the latter. In accordance with this invention, the reactive force resulting from engagement of the latch member with the window frame exerts a thrust on the connecting bar in one direction and the reactive force resulting from engagement of the actuating member with the window frame exerts a thrust on the connecting bar in the opposite direction, with the result that the two forces tend to balance each other and thereby 40 impart no appreciable strain on the ventilator tending to raise or lower it from its normal position with respect to the top and bottom bars of the window frame.

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates latch mechanism of the character set forth adapted to be readily detachably mounted on the swinging edge of the ventilator and thereby permitting the ventilator and frame to be operated, or otherwise coated with 50 paint, before the latch is applied thereto.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- 55 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a casement window constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the swinging edge of the ventilator having certain parts broken away to show my improved latch construction 5 in assembled relation therewith;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in a different position;

Figure '4. is a view similar to Figure 3 having certain parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a'fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 6-45 of Figure 1 and showing certain of the parts broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 1-! of Figure 1.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, it will be noted that the window construction shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame l0 and a ventilator ll supported within the frame for .25 swinging movement relative thereto. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein for the purpose of illustration, the ventilator is pivotally connected to the frame at one vertical edge to permit outward swinging movement of the opposite edge relative to the adjacent side of the window frame. In the present instance, a pair of brackets l2 extend outwardly from the top and bottom bars of the ventilator adjacent the pivoted edge of the latter and the extremities of. these brackets are pivotally supported on corresponding brackets I 3 secured to the ventilator frame.

In accordance with conventional practice, provision is made at the bottom of the ventilator frame Ill for swinging the ventilator relative to the frame. One type of operating mechanism that may be employed for accomplishing the above result is shown in the drawings as comprising irreversible gearing supported upon the. inner side of the lower bar M of the frame and operatively connected to the lower bar l5 of the ventilator by means of an arm l6. Upon reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that the housing containing the irreversible gearing is secured: to the lower bar of the frame adjacent the side of the frame upon which the ventilator is pivotally supported, and that the arm I6 is connected to the bottom bar l5 of the ventilator adjacent the swinging edge thereof. In detail,

the irreversible gearing is shown in Figure 6 as having a segment I! supported in the housing for rocking movement in a horizontal plane and integrally connected to one end of the arm IS in such a manner that rocking movement of the segment in opposite directions effects a corresponding swinging movement of the free end of the arm It. The segment is actuated by means of a worm l8 journalled in the housing and connected to an operating handle l9 conveniently located for manipulation by the operator. As pointed out above, the free end of the arm i6 is operatively connected to the ventilator adjacent the swinging edge thereof and this is accomplished by securing a track 26 to the underside of the bottom bar I of the ventilator in a position to have a sliding interlocking engagement with a follower 2| secured to the free end of the arm |6. Thus, it will be noted that rotation of the operating handle l9 in one direction effects an outward swinging movement of the ventilator relative to the frame and rotation of this handle in the opposite direction causes the ventilator to swing inwardly toward its closed position within the frame H5. Inasmuch as the reduction gearing, operatively connecting the handle ii! to the arm i6, is of the irreversible type, it necessarily follows that the ventilator is positively held in any one of its several adjusted positions.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper bar 22 of the ventilating frame is latched and effectively clamped to the adjacent bar of the window frame by means of latch mechanism automatically operable in dependence upon actuation of the ventilator operating mechanism. In general, the construction is such that when the ventilator is swung to its closed position by the operating mechanism, the upper side of the swinging ventilator is automatically latched to the frame and this latching means is released upon initial movement of the swinging ventilator from its closed position. In detail, the latch mechanism is shown in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, as having a latch member 23 in the form of a cam pivotally supported upon a pin or projection 24 extending laterally from the upper end of the vertical bar 25, forming the swinging edge of the ventilator The cam latch member 23 has a projecting cam portion 26 adapted to extend above the top bar of the ventilator, in the operative position of the latch member, for engagement with the inner side of a projection 21 depending from the top bar of the window frame Hi. The latch member 23 is adapted to be swung about the pin 26 from the position thereof shown in Figure 3, wherein the portion 26 is in abutting relationship with the inner side of the projection 21, to the position illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the portion 26 is free to pass beneath the projection 27.

It will also be observed from Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, that the latch mechanism includes an actuating cam 28 pivotally supported on a pin 29 projecting laterally from the exterior surface of the vertical ventilating bar 25 adjacent the lower end thereof and having a cam portion 30 engageable with the bottom bar l of the frame to rock the member 28 in a clockwise direction about of the bar 3| is connected to the actuating member 28 at the outer side of a plane including the axis of rocking movement of this member and the upper end of the bar 3| is connected to the latch member 23 at the inner side of a plane including the axis of the pin 24. In the present instance, the pivots 24 and 29 are offset with respect to each other sufficiently to permit extending the connecting bar 3| parallel to the ventilator bar 25, and the connection between the opposite ends of the connecting bar 3| and the cams is of the slotted type to permit sliding movement of the bar in a straight line parallel to the exterior surface of the ventilator bar 25. As shown in Figure 2, a slot 32 is formed in the lower end of the connecting bar and extends from the outer edge of this bar to slidably receive a shouldered pin 33 projecting laterally from the actuating cam member 28 at a point spaced outwardly from the pin 29. On the other hand, the upper end of the connecting arm 3| is provided with a slot 33' extending from the inner edge of the arm to slidably receive a shouldered pin 34 extending laterally from the latching cam 23 at a point spaced inwardly from a vertical plane including the axis of the pin 29. The length of the slots in opposite ends of the connecting bar 3| is such as to afford free shifting movement of the shouldered pins relative to the connecting bar 3| throughout the swinging movement of the actuating and latching cams. The rectilinear movement of the connecting bar rendered possible by the above construction is advantageous in that it permits confining this bar between the inwardly extending weatherproofing and abutment flanges 35 and 36, respectively, on the vertical bar 25 of the ventilator. In actual practice, suitable spacers are secured to the exterior surface of the ventilating bar 25 by the pivot pins for the cams so as to avoid frictional engagement of the connecting bar 3| with the painted exterior surface of the ventilating bar 25.

In practice, the swinging ventilator is supported in the frame in such a manner that the lower side edge of the ventilator is offset outwardly with respect to the top edge and, as a consequence, the latter engages the window frame prior to the bottom edge. With this in mind, attention is directed to Figure 2 of the drawings showing the ventilator in a position wherein the extremity of the cam portion 36 of the actuating member 28 is abutting the outer side of the lower frame bar l4 and wherein the projecting portion 26 of the latching cam 23 is located within the window frame. As the ventilator continues to move inwardly, the cam surface 30 rolls on the rounded edge portion 80 of the bottom bar I4 of the window frame, in the manner shown in Figure 3,

and effects a rotation of the actuating cam 28 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 29. Owing to the offset relationship between the pivot pin 29 and the shouldered pin 33, on the lower end of the connecting bar 3|, the latter is raised causing a rocking movement of the latching cam 23 in a counterclockwise direction to engage the outer edge of the portion 26 of this cam with the cam surface 4| at the lower end of the projection or abutment 21, and to finally engage the portion 26 with the inner side of the abutment 27, as shown in Figure 4. The development of the cam surface 36 on the actuating cam 28 is such that the portion 26 of the cam latch 23 engages the inner side of the abutment 21 at the time the flanges 42 and 43 of the top bar of the ventilator;

engage the adjacent flanges of the top bar of the frame and before the lower bar l5 of the ventilator-abuts the adjacent bar of the window frame. As the bottom bar of the ventilator is drawn in by the operator to engage the flanges thereof with the corresponding flanges on the bottom bar of the window frame, the free end of the cam actuator 28 is raised by the cam surface 30 to a position in engagement with the flat surface 44 on the bottom bar of the window frame. It will be understood from Figure 4 that as the free end of the cam actuator 28 is raised to a position in engagement with the flat surface 44 on the bottom bar of the window frame, the latter cam is rocked slightly about the pivot pin 29 in a clockwise direction to impart a corresponding rocking movement to the cam latch 23 in a counterclockwise direction and this slight motion of the cam latch is suflicient to effectively clamp the flanges 62 and 43 on the top bar of the ventilator against the adjacent flanges on the top bar of the window frame.

In the latched position of the parts shown in Figure 4, the ventilator is under tension and, as a consequence, tends to spring open. This tendency' is prevented by the latch, since the force component applied to the portion 26 of the cam 23, tending to rock the latter in a clockwise direction toward its released position, merely has the effect of increasing the pressure of engagement of the actuating cam with the flat surface 44 on the bottom frame bar, as will be readily apparent from the relative locations of the cam pivots and connections between the opposite ends of the connecting bar 3| with the cams. Thus, it follows that the ventilator is effectively latched in its closed position in the window frame Ill.

Upon viewing the latch construction in the closed position of the ventilator, shown in Figure 4, it will also be noted that the reactive forces applied to the cams, place the connecting rod 3| under compression and these forces are substan tially equalized so that no appreciable strain is placed on the ventilator tending to raise or lower it relative to the window frame. In detail, it will be apparent from the above figure that the force component acting on the portion 26 of the cam latch 23 tends to move the connecting rod in a downward direction, and that the force component acting on the actuating cam 28 tends to raise the connecting bar. Inasmuch as the cams 23 and 28 are pivotally connected to the ventilator frame at 24 and 29, respectively, and since these pivot points are laterally offset from the pins 34 and 33 which connect the cams to the connecting rod 3|, it follows that the force components acting upon the cams are exerted upon the connecting rod in opposite directions, thereby placing the rod under compression and substantially equalizing the forces applied to the ventilator.

Having described the manner in which the latch mechanism operates to latch the ventilator in its closed position, reference will now be made to the manner in which this latch mechanism releases the ventilator upon movement of the latter toward its open position. Inasmuch as the Ventilator is constructed in such a manner that the top bar thereof engages the adjacent bar of the frame prior to engagement of the bottom bar of the ventilator with the frame, it follows that upon initial manipulation of the operating mechanism to open the ventilator, the bottom bar of the latter is displaced outwardly before the top bar. As the bottom bar of the ventilator is moved outwardly by the operating mechanism, the extremity of the actuating cam 28 slides off the flat surface 44 and this permits the connecting bar to move downwardly by the action of gravity. It will, of course, be noted from the several figures of the drawings that downward movement of the connecting bar 3| swings the latching cam 23 in a clockwise direction away from the projection 21 on the frame and thus continued opening movement of the ventilator is effected without interference from the latch mechanism.

It may be pointed out at this time that when the latch mechanism is applied to a window construction of the type illustrated herein, the outer abutment flange on the bottom bar of the window frame is cut away opposite the actuating cam 28 in order to permit the free end of this cam to engage the flat surface 44, previously referred to. The notch in the outer abutment flange resulting from the above serves as a drain opening for any) moisture that may be collected on the bottom.

frame bar Hi, and thereby prevents this moisture from accumulating between the abutment flanges on this bar.

It is also one of the important features of the present invention to detachably secure the latch mechanism upon the swinging edge of the ventilator so that the latch mechanism may be readily assembled on the ventilator after the latter has been dipped into, or otherwise coated, with paint. is accomplished by forming slots 53 in the connecting bar 3| adjacent the opposite ends thereof for receiving shouldered pins 5| extending laterally from the exterior surface of the ventilator bar 25. The upper ends 52 of each of the slots 50 are enlarged sufliciently to receive the heads 53 on the pins 5| and the width of the remaining portions of the slots is less than the diameter of the head portions 53 of the pins, but is sufiicient to slidably receive the shank portions of these.

pins. It will, of course, be understood that the vertical spacing between the pins 5| corresponds to the longitudinal spacing of the enlarged upper end portions 52 of the slots 50 in the connecting bar 3|, so that the bar may be assembled by,v merely aligning the enlarged portions of the slots with the pins. After the connecting bar 3| is positioned on the swinging edge of the ventilator by the pins, the cams carried by the opposite ends of the bar are engaged with their respective pivots and the bar is shifted upwardly sufliciently to engage the shank portions of the pins 5| in the reduced portions of the slots 5!). Accidental disengagement of the connecting bar 3| from the pins 5| is prevented by means of a spring retainer 55 associated with the slot 50 at the lower end of the connecting bar 3| and adapted to cooperate with the adjacent pin 5| to normally prevent the downward movement of the rod 3| required to align the head portions of the pins with the enlarged portions of the slots. In detail, one end of the spring retainer is secured to the connecting bar and the free end thereof extends over the enlarged portion of the lower slot 50 for snap engagement with the head portion of the associated pin 5|. The construction is such that when the head portion of the lower pin 5| is engaged in the enlarged portion of the slot 50, the free end of the spring retainer is snapped by the head portion of the pin into engagement with the underside thereof wherein it forms an abutment to prevent downward movement of the connecting bar 3| to the extent required to align the head portions of the pins with the enlarged portions of the slots. It will, of course, be understood that In the present instance, the above when it is desired to remove the connecting bar, the free end of the spring retainer is merely sprung outwardly a sufficient distance to permit the passage of the head portion of the pin beneath the same into the enlarged portion of the slot 50. Thus, it will be seen that the latch mechanism can be readily applied to, or removed from, the ventilator.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a relatively simple, inexpensive latch construction capable of being readily applied to the swinging edge of the ventilator and adapted to be automatically operated in dependence upon swinging movement of the ventilator relative to the window frame. It will also be observed that my improved latch construction cooperates with the operator for the ventilator to effectively clamp the ventilator frame bars and window frame bars into intimate contacting relation Without placing any appreciable strain on the ventilator tending to raise or lower the same relative to the window frame. In addition, it will be noted that the latch mechanism is confined between the inner and outer sides of the swinging edge of the ventilator and thereby simplifies the installation of screens and storm windows. In other words, with my latch mechanism previously described, projecting handles are eliminated and no provision need be made for the ventilator latch mechanism in the screening or in the storm windows.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a window construction having a frame and having a ventilator supported in the frame with one side edge hingedly connected to the adjacent side edge of the frame, means for latching the ventilator in its closed position in the window frame including a. latch member pivotally supported on the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent one end of said edge and having a portion engageable with a shoulder on the frame to secure the ventilator to said frame, an actuating member pivotally connected to the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent the opposite end of the same, a connecting bar between the members having one end connected to the latch member at a point offset inwardly from the pivotal connection of the latch member with the frame and having the opposite end pivotally connected to the actuating member at a point olfset in an outward direction from the pivotal connection of said actuating member with the frame, means on the actuating member and frame 00- operating with each other when the ventilator is moved to its closed position to slide the connecting bar in a direction to swing the latch member into engagement with the shoulder on the frame, and additional means on the actuating member adapted to abut a flat surface on the window frame in the closed position of the ventilator to maintain the latch member in engagement with said shoulder.

2. In a window construction having a frame and having a ventilator supported in the frame with one vertical edge hingedly connected to the adjacent vertical edge of the frame and with the top bar thereof offset with respect to the bottom bar to engage the frame prior to the said bottom bar, means for latching the ventilator in its closed position in the window frame including a latch member pivotally connected to the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent the top of the latter and having a portion engageable with a shoulder on the frame to clamp the top bar of the ventilator against the adjacent bar of the frame, an actuating member pivotally connected to the swinging edge of the ventilator adjacent the bottom of the latter and having a cam surface cooperating with an edge portion of the window frame adjacent the ventilator to rock the actuating member in a direction toward said latch member, a bar connecting the members effective upon rocking movement of the actuating member in the above direction to swing the latch member into engagement with the shoulder on the frame, and means at the end of the cam surface on the actuating member effective upon continued movement of the bottom side of the ventilator into the frame to slide over the edge portion aforesaid of the frame and impart a slight additional rocking movement to the latch member suflicient to effectively clamp the upper side of the ventilator to the adjacent side of the frame, and a flat surface on the frame en-v gageable with said last named means to hold the latch member in latched position through said bar.

SAMUEL C. REYNAUD. 

